Matthew 12:43-45?

[Roseheart]

43 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.45 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.”

This passage has left me a bit confused. Can somebody help me out on the meaning, please?

 

[Rose_bud]

He was speaking to there unbelief (the Pharisees were looking for a sign), for a while they were willing to believe in Him...but then

The seven other spirits
Prov6 :16-19There are six things which the LORD hates,Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,And hands that shed innocent blood,A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

That evil generation crucified Him

 

[juvenissun]

This passage has left me a bit confused. Can somebody help me out on the meaning, please?

This is my intuitive literal understanding:

A man with one evil spirit: A one-evil man.
A man with no spirit: A atheistic man, or an agnostic man.
A man with seven evil spirits: A very evil man.

A man with an empty, swept and ordered mind is a man with intense spiritual hungry. Example are people who are seeking all type of religious comforts.

Well, I think my understanding is quite immature.

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

It pertains to the judgment that would fall upon the rebellous house of Israel.

Leviticus 26:18
And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

Leviticus 26:21
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

Leviticus 26:24
Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.


Leviticus 26:28
Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

 

[Roseheart]

Hmm, seems people interpret this differently. Thank you, everyone, for your views and for helping me to understand the passage better. God bless!

 

[InSpiritInTruth]

Here's a similitude that may help you understand.

Acts 19:14-16

King James Version (KJV)


14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

 

[juvenissun]

Hmm, seems people interpret this differently. Thank you, everyone, for your views and for helping me to understand the passage better. God bless!

I don't think we should emphasize too much on the number of "seven".

The seven could literally means seven, or it could mean "all". So, if the mind of a person is empty, then all kind of evil spirits could get in and stay with the person.

We are not sure how does any "spirit" get into a person. For the Holy Spirit, you certainly need to "invite" Him in. But for evil spirit, I am not sure one could easily "reject" it and not to let it in. The Holy Spirit is an unique one. But evil spirit could have many different kinds like what Rose_bud explained. So a person could be evil in many ways.

My guess is that a person may be able to fight with evil spirits and try not to let them in. But it bounds to be a losing battle. One may ward off one, but may let another one in unintentionally. That is why Jesus tells us to "run away" from them and not to fight.

 

[Roseheart]

Here's a similitude that may help you understand.

Acts 19:14-16

King James Version (KJV)


14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Thank you - it's interesting how many similar things the are in the Bible to do with the number 7.

I don't think we should emphasize too much on the number of "seven".

The seven could literally means seven, or it could mean "all". So, if the mind of a person is empty, then all kind of evil spirits could get in and stay with the person.

We are not sure how does any "spirit" get into a person. For the Holy Spirit, you certainly need to "invite" Him in. But for evil spirit, I am not sure one could easily "reject" it and not to let it in. The Holy Spirit is an unique one. But evil spirit could have many different kinds like what Rose_bud explained. So a person could be evil in many ways.

My guess is that a person may be able to fight with evil spirits and try not to let them in. But it bounds to be a losing battle. One may ward off one, but may let another one in unintentionally. That is why Jesus tells us to "run away" from them and not to fight.

That last bit makes a lot of sense. It's like if you're having trouble battling with certain thoughts, trying not to think them is harder than replacing them with something else.